Cork City kept their hopes of European football in the summer very much alive as they ended a promising season for Shamrock Rovers at Morton Stadium. The win lifts Cork over Bray Wanderers into joint third place with two games to play.

Anthony Buckley provided the only goal of a dreadful first-half with the lead goal on 41 minutes. Ollie Cahill and John Caulfield combined to set up the midfielder who shot home.

Rovers' second-half rally was halted when Cork snatched a second goal on the break in the 65th minute. Tony O'Dowd initially made a brilliant save to tip a Pat Morley volley onto a post and out for a corner. Cahill sent the ball over, O'Dowd punched clear but only as far as substitute Mark Herrick who volleyed home from just inside the area.

Tony Grant sprung Rovers back into the game three minutes later when heading home Marc Kenny's corner.

In a dramatic finale, Rovers had a last minute shout for a penalty when Derek Coughlan appeared to handle. But it wasn't given by the referee, who then sent Cork manager Liam Murphy from the dugout for kicking the ball away at a Rovers throw-in.

Shamrock Rovers: O'Dowd; Vaudequin, Palmer, Cronin, Woods; Kenny, Deans (Robinson, 65 mins), Tracey (Dunne, 85 mins), Byrne; Cousins, Francis (Grant, h/t).

Cork City: Devine; Carey, Coughlan, Daly, Horgan; Caulfield, Flanagan, Buckley (Herrick, 57 mins), Cahill; Hartigan, Morley.

Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).